Gale: Global Issues in Context, Population Issues

Ken C. (Canada)
36 words 1 learner

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. ageing
    the organic process of growing older and showing the effects of increasing age
    According to the United Nations (UN) Population Division report for the 2002 World Assembly on Ageing, "population ageing is unprecedented, without parallel in human history and the twenty-first century will witness even more rapid ageing than did the century just past."
  2. population
    the people who inhabit a territory or state
    The global population now stands at more than 6.7 billion.
  3. Food and Agriculture Organization
    the United Nations agency concerned with the international organization of food and agriculture
    UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) officials warn that 370 million people could face chronic famine by 2050 and that an estimated population increase to more than 9 billion people by 2050 suggests that the world will need to produce 70 percent more food than is currently produced to avoid widespread hunger.
  4. population growth
    increase in the number of people who inhabit a territory or state
    Population growth continued to accelerate, taking only thirty years to grow from two to three billion and then just another fifteen years to grow to four billion.
  5. birth control pill
    a contraceptive in the form of a pill containing estrogen and progestin to inhibit ovulation and so prevent conception
    Such effective contraception measures as the birth control pill, used by an estimated one hundred million women worldwide, are available for those who want to restrict the size of their families.
  6. life expectancy
    an expected time to live as calculated on the basis of statistical probabilities
    Over the last century, such advances in medicine as the discovery of antibiotics and improved health care and sanitation have led to dramatic increases in life expectancy.
  7. urbanization
    the social process whereby cities grow
    Increasing population has led to social change in the form of increased urbanization.
  8. avian
    pertaining to or characteristic of birds
    Along with a potential infectious disease pandemic from a highly lethal virus related to H5N1 avian flu, AIDS is perhaps the biggest public health threat to the global population, particularly in Africa, where gains in life expectancy have been wiped out owing to the numbers succumbing to the disease.
  9. soil erosion
    the washing away of soil by the flow of water
    Not only do people consume resources for food and energy, their activities tend to damage and degrade the environment through atmospheric pollution and soil erosion.
  10. expectancy
    an expectation
    Over the last century, such advances in medicine as the discovery of antibiotics and improved health care and sanitation have led to dramatic increases in life expectancy.
  11. pandemic
    existing everywhere
    Along with a potential infectious disease pandemic from a highly lethal virus related to H5N1 avian flu, AIDS is perhaps the biggest public health threat to the global population, particularly in Africa, where gains in life expectancy have been wiped out owing to the numbers succumbing to the disease.
  12. Secretary General
    a person who is a chief administrator
    At a November 2009 conference in Rome, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for a "single global vision" to tackle population, climate, and food issues.
  13. climate change
    a shift in the world's average weather and temperature
    The most significant environmental problem that has been linked to population growth and increased consumption is global warming, which threatens widespread climate change.
  14. contraception
    birth control by the use of devices or drugs or surgery
    Such effective contraception measures as the birth control pill, used by an estimated one hundred million women worldwide, are available for those who want to restrict the size of their families.
  15. renewable
    capable of being replaced
    The size and resources of Earth are finite (although some resources, like wood, are renewable).
  16. health care
    the preservation of mental and physical health by preventing or treating illness through services offered by the health profession
    Over the last century, such advances in medicine as the discovery of antibiotics and improved health care and sanitation have led to dramatic increases in life expectancy.
  17. United Nations
    an organization of independent states formed in 1945 to promote international peace and security
    According to the United Nations (UN) Population Division report for the 2002 World Assembly on Ageing, "population ageing is unprecedented, without parallel in human history and the twenty-first century will witness even more rapid ageing than did the century just past."
  18. infectious disease
    a disease transmitted only by a specific kind of contact
    Along with a potential infectious disease pandemic from a highly lethal virus related to H5N1 avian flu, AIDS is perhaps the biggest public health threat to the global population, particularly in Africa, where gains in life expectancy have been wiped out owing to the numbers succumbing to the disease.
  19. FAO
    the United Nations agency concerned with the international organization of food and agriculture
    UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) officials warn that 370 million people could face chronic famine by 2050 and that an estimated population increase to more than 9 billion people by 2050 suggests that the world will need to produce 70 percent more food than is currently produced to avoid widespread hunger.
  20. biodiversity
    the variety of plant and animal life in a habitat
    In addition to the negative consequences of unchecked human growth upon the quality of human life, some population control advocates argue that increased human population threatens biodiversity.
  21. developing country
    a country that is poor and whose citizens are mostly agricultural workers but that wants to become more advanced socially and economically
    Most of this growth occurs in poorer, developing countries.
  22. migrate
    move from one country or region to another and settle there
    Many people migrate to the city in search of opportunities to earn money, but insufficient employment may merely shift poverty and its accompanying problems from rural to urban areas.
  23. demographic
    a statistic characterizing human populations
    The UN Population Division report for the 2007 World Assembly on Ageing states that the world's aging population will produce an unprecedented demographic shift as "the number of older persons is expected to exceed the number of children for the first time in 2047."
  24. global warming
    a rise in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere
    The most significant environmental problem that has been linked to population growth and increased consumption is global warming, which threatens widespread climate change.
  25. ill health
    a state in which you are unable to function normally and without pain
    Many older people suffer from chronic ill health, which means they consume an ever-increasing proportion of health care budgets.
  26. birth rate
    the number of babies born during a specific period within a population
    The aging of the population, along with decreasing birth rates in many countries, means that there may not be enough younger people working to support their elders financially through pensions and social support.
  27. infrastructure
    the basic features of a system or organization
    To cope with these increases, cities' infrastructures need to be strengthened to provide adequate housing and transport.
  28. AIDS
    a serious (often fatal) disease of the immune system transmitted through blood products especially by sexual contact or contaminated needles
    Sex education is also vital in stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS, which has killed more than twenty-five million people since 1981.
  29. erosion
    the process of wearing or grinding something down
    Not only do people consume resources for food and energy, their activities tend to damage and degrade the environment through atmospheric pollution and soil erosion.
  30. flu
    an acute febrile highly contagious viral disease
    Along with a potential infectious disease pandemic from a highly lethal virus related to H5N1 avian flu, AIDS is perhaps the biggest public health threat to the global population, particularly in Africa, where gains in life expectancy have been wiped out owing to the numbers succumbing to the disease.
  31. hygiene
    a condition promoting sanitary practices
    Overcrowding and poor hygiene in urban areas bring an increased threat of disease.
  32. HIV
    the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome
    Sex education is also vital in stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS, which has killed more than twenty-five million people since 1981.
  33. growth rate
    the rate of increase in size per unit time
    In the West, most countries have low, or even negative, population growth rates.
  34. pill
    a dose of medicine in the form of a small pellet
    Such effective contraception measures as the birth control pill, used by an estimated one hundred million women worldwide, are available for those who want to restrict the size of their families.
  35. famine
    a severe shortage of food resulting in starvation and death
    UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) officials warn that 370 million people could face chronic famine by 2050 and that an estimated population increase to more than 9 billion people by 2050 suggests that the world will need to produce 70 percent more food than is currently produced to avoid widespread hunger.
  36. consumption
    the act of using something up
    The most significant environmental problem that has been linked to population growth and increased consumption is global warming, which threatens widespread climate change.
Created on Wed Dec 30 22:57:47 EST 2009

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.